If you are scheduled to visit Singapore these couple of days, do bring along additional medication especially those with existing heart or respiratory ailments.Â Don't forget to bring along your respiratoryÂ masks and some indoor entertainment!

What causes the haze?

Singapore is likely to be impacted by smoke haze when there are forest fires in the region and the prevailing Southwest Monsoon winds blow the smoke from the fires in our direction.Â Past smoke haze episodes occurred largely within the period of May to October.

The Pollutant Standards Index, Singapore's main measure for air pollution, surged to a record reading of 371, breaching the "hazardous" classification that can aggravate respiratory ailments. The previous all-time high before this week was in 1997, when the index reached 226.

Singapore is located near the Equator, hence the climate falls into the Tropical category with no discernable seasons throughout the year.

The weather in Singapore generally falls between 22 and 22 degree celsius. The hotter months are generally from February to June. With the cooler and rainy months from November to January.

Although Singapore is a tiny island, the weather varies on the different parts of Singapore. It could be raining cats and dogs in the east, but there is nary a drop of rain in the west at the same time!

It is best to bring an umbrella with you in case of a sudden downpour!